Attractive men might be more selfish, according to a new study published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology. The researchers, led by Michael Price, found that attractive men showed less generosity. Moreover, they are less likely to support equality.

Does attractiveness affects one’s generosity?

The objective of the study was to examine the effects of attractiveness on an individual’s attitude and behaviour relating to inequality and selfishness.

The experiment: Documenting the participants

63 men and 62 women enlisted their participation for the study.

The researchers measured the bodies of the volunteers using a 3D body scanner. Attractiveness was judged based on scores pertaining to body measurements: waist-to-chest ratio for men, and waist-to-hip ratio for women and slimness.

Furthermore, all participants had to fill a personality questionnaire.

The group of men and women were also made to take part in an experiment where they were asked to determine how much of the money given to them by the researchers would they share with another person.

Moreover, a group of people were asked to rate the attractiveness of the participants based on their body scans, and another group was asked to rate their egalitarian and selfless levels.

Results: Attractive men were more selfish and less inclined to equality

Those men scoring higher for attractiveness were found to be more selfish than those who scored lower marks. The former were also less egalitarian than their counterparts.

This trait was not displayed by the women: the women who had higher scores proved to be as generous and egalitarian as the others.

The ‘raters’ also thought that the more attractive men and women would be more selfish and less egalitarian.

The lead author said:

“Our results showed that in fact we may be justified in expecting more attractive men to behave in ways that are less favorable to economic and social equality.”

It is to be noted that the results of this study cannot be applied to all.